Budget Whisperer: 6 ways working from home makes you a happier person

I’ve recently started working from home and, despite some frustrating aspects of the job, I have found myself to be happier overall based on what it means to not have to drive into the office each and every day. The weeks don’t drag on and I don’t find myself dreading waking up in the morning.

It might seem like a no-brainer that working from home makes you happier, but let’s break it down and discover why it really is the best way to work.

1. Wake up without an alarm clock. Every day. Waking up on your own body’s schedule always produces a more rejuvenated feeling, while taking away the dread of getting up and ready. Wake up at your own pace and suddenly the beginning of a new day is welcomed instead of held in disdain. Those around you may not even have to run for cover before you’ve had your first cup of coffee.

2. Choose your own space. You have the freedom to work in the comfort that suits you best. Sending emails from bed makes work a lot less bothersome and the ability to set up an in-home office allows for a wider spectrum of customization than any cubicle can offer. Break up the monotony of the day by switching up your locales. Home office, dining room table, coffee shop down the street — there’s no need to stay in one place for eight hours, so let your creativity lead the way.

3. Get comfortable. While there is certainly something to be said about dressing for success, if you’re not meeting with clients or coworkers, there is little reason to get dressed to the nines while working in your own personal space. Wear the clothes that will allow you to focus on what’s important instead of worrying about fit, wrinkles and stains. Use less water and energy by not having to wash as many clothes each week, and save money and gas by not going to the dry cleaners on a regular basis. The earth and your bank account will thank you.

4. Take breaks as needed. Are you someone who needs to take a breather between tasks to be on top of your game? Take a break, clear your head, and get back to work in a more positive spirit — without the worry of coworkers questioning your productivity.

5. View meetings as a welcome change of pace. There are few people who truly enjoy meetings in a business setting, but when they are viewed as yet another change in scenery, they can be embraced. Because you’re likely to not come into contact with other people as regularly as you would working in an office, meetings are a social gathering to look forward to as opposed to just more time you have to spend in close quarters with the annoying guy down the hall.

6. Don’t waste time (and sanity) in traffic. When eight hours of your life are already being spent working each day, why spend any more time doing something as frustrating as sitting in traffic? Studies have shown that longer commutes are linked to high blood pressure and obesity, so in saving time and money by working from home, you are also saving the health of yourself and the environment.

Do you work from home? What is it that makes you a better person?

Susan Russell, aka the Budget Whisperer, is a member of the Dimespring 30, a community of bloggers sharing their thoughts, experiences and perspectives on personal finance.